C'garh polls: Ajit Jogi gets notice for model code violation

Returning officer of Kunkuri Assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh has served a notice on senior Congress leader and former chief minister Ajit Jogi for llegedly violating the poll code by misleading tribal voters over functioning of EVMs when they cast their vote.

BJP had filed a complaint against Jogi in this regard.

According to election officials, addressing a public meeting in Kunkuri constituency of Jashpur district on November 11, Jogi had said people will suffer an electric shock if they press buttons on EVMs, other than that of the Congress candidate in the fray, while exercising their franchise.

BJP has accused Jogi of threatening the electorate to vote in favour of the Congress candidate contesting from the seat by making the remarks, said Collector and District Election Officer LS Ken.

"BJP in its complaint stated that while addressing people, Jogi asked them to press the button bearing 'Punja Chhap'--the Congress symbol of hand--on EVMs. He told them that they will receive an electric shock if they press buttons next to other symbols on EVMs except that of Congress," the collector added.

The notice was issued to Jogi on Tuesday by Returning Officer BP Mourya after verifying the videography of the programme, seeking his reply in this connection, Ken said.

He said future course of action would depend upon Jogi's reply.

Kunkuri seat will be going to polls in the second and final phase on November 19.

BJP has accused that the statement of Jogi has generated a sense of fear among tribal voters in the assembly segment and they are nervous over using EVMs.